Metal harness heddle and assembly



Dec. 30, 1952 A. s. GALAHER 2,623,547

METAL HARNESS HEDDLE AND ASSEMBLY Filed March 7, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 18 5 21 F F2314- 15 :19 Fig. 1'. G jg Dec. 30, 1952 A. s. GALAHER 3,

METAL HARNESS HEDDLE AND ASSEMBLY Filed March 7, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 METAL HARNESS HEDDLE' AND ASSEMBLY Abbott S. Galaher, North Andover, Mass., as-

signor to Emmons Loom Harness Company, Lawrence, Mass a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 7, 1950, S'erial No. 1485159 3 Claims.

This invention relates to harness frames. such as are used in looms for weaving.

Ordinarily such loom harness frames have been made of wooden top and bottom members which are often called staves, connected at the ends by end pieces or bars, the whole forming a rectangular frame which is carried by strapsand associated with other similar 100m harnesses each of which carries a certain number of heddles through each of which heddles extends a warp thread.

Formerly warp threads were drawn through individually by hand but more recently automatic drawing-in machines have been produced which were effective on drawing in the threads where the heddles were made of textile fabric and still more recently metal heddles, usually of steel, have taken the place of the textile heddles for use in such drawing-in machines.

In the usual harness frame, the heddles, whether of textile material or of steel have bar loops, eyes or sometimes books at each end with a warp thread eye near the center, there being at the top and bottom what are known as heddle bars which pass through such bar loops, eyes or hooks thus holding the heddles in place.

In many harnesses, these heddle bars are supported not only by being passed through the end pieces or bars but also by hooks or hangers which are carried by the adjoining stave member. In drawing-in machines, it is desirable that the heddle. bars should sag and bend as little as possible.

It is necessary in the drawing-in machine that the heddles should be free to run on the heddle bars without anything to interrupt them and usually a special type of hanger or hook such as shown in the patent to Colman, No. 1,686,873, is used.

It has been found however that by making a combined stave and heddle bar support of a homogeneous material, preferably one made entirely of alight metal or'of other suitable material such as some plastic in the form of an integral strip which may be provided with one or more flanges which extend the entire length of the stave member, or without such flanges, two of these stave members can be connected by end pieces to form a frame, and by providing a web as part of each strip which web extends inward and which may be of a less length than the distance between the end pieces or bars, and by providing, at the inside edge of this web, a suitable flange to form a support for a track; thetrack being the heddle bar, and, preferably by extend-- 2. ing this track somewhat inside and somewhat outside this flange, heddles of the hook type can be carried thereby and will be slidable to an unlimited extent thereon.

As it is often necessary or desirable to remove a certain number of heddles from the heddle bars or to add a certain number, means should be provided whereby the ends of a top and bottom heddle bar can be freed or blocked as by a suitable stop or stops such as the end pieces or members, It is also desirable that the heddle bars should be of a metal such as steel on which the heddles, especially if made of metal can slidewith a minimum of friction and of Wear.

I show various ways in which this can be accomplished without separating the assembly of heddle bars and heddles. In some cases, the assembly can be removed entirely, and in other cases the ends of both heddle bars on one side or end can remain in place in the frame. When this assembly is removed from the frame, or in any event, I find it desirable to so form the heddles that they will be held in place on the heddle bars and will not tend to get out of place or come off when one or both ends are freed from the end pieces or members whereby the heddle bars can slip endwise thus causing the heddles to from acute or obtuse angles therewith instead of right angles.

The principal feature of this invention is the shape of the hook at each end of each fiat thin metal heddle with looking prongs which when the heddle is associated with a heddle bar having a bead at the outside and inside edges or merely at the outside edge will be kept in place as the to permit the twisting off or on of a single heddle.

butthe prongs keep them from coming off vertically when the heddle assembly is removed.

In, the drawings, Fig. l is a front elevation of one form of my improved loom harness frame. Fig; 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one corner of said frame showing a means of releasably holding a heddle bar in said frame.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the portion of the frame shown in Fig; 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating one method of attaching a I heddle bar to my loom harness frame.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a preferred type of heddle for use in the frame shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of a modified form of my device.

Fig. '7 is a top view of the device shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of one corner of the frame shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view on a vertical plane of the stave, heddle bar and hook shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly broken away, to show another modification of my device in which bosses are used rather than a flange to support the heddle bar.

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a corner of a frame having a web which extends up to a single end piece and having a stave protecting plate.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged View similar to Fig. 5 of a heddle in which the free ends of both heddle hooks are on the same side, which might be the front or might be the back side of the loom and with a heddle bar which has only one bead, namely at the outside.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view as from the outer side showing how the hook of a single heddle can be so twisted that such end of the heddle can be released from the heddle bar.

F represents a heddle frame on which are the heddles L each held at each end by a heddle bar R, the frame being made up of end pieces E, E, and of top and bottom stave members A, A. Each of these stave members A is shown as formed of a single flat strip of light metal I such as aluminum, magnesium or some alloy thereof with a back or base 2 from which project a top 3 and a middle longitudinal flange 4 each of which extends the full length of the stave member between end pieces E, E, and an inner or bottom web 5 which is an integral part of the strip.

As shown, there is an inner or bottom flange 6 which is an integral part of a stave A and of the web 5 and, as shown, extends somewhat less than the length of the stave members whereby there is a free space lat the inside of each end of each stave. This space in the preferred construction is to receive an arm ll] of the shorter l I of the two metal strips II and I2 which form the end pieces E, E. These end piece strips are each formed with a middle part such as 13 or E4 and two arms ID or IE at right angles thereto. Metal strip II is an inside member and I2 is an outside member.

There are holes 29, 2| in the arms In and I5 of each end piece strip H, 12 which register with similar holes 22, 23 through the top and middle flanges 3 and 4 so that the end pieces can be and are fastened to the top and bottom stave members by means of bolts 24 having nuts 25.

In this case, the inner and outer strips H and i2 forming part of each end piece E may be riveted together by rivets I6.

There are also holes I! through each end piece E, of such a size that an end 3! of each heddle bar R can pass through it and there is also a spring D which, as shown, is bent and is passed through two holes 32 and 32 so as to hold it in place. Each spring D has long arm 3| which extends along the outside of an end piece E and has a bent tip 33 which passes through a suitable hole 34 in the projecting end 30 of a heddle bar R.

By releasing this tip 33 of a spring arm, .a heddle bar R can be moved more or less lengthwise.

Asshown, each heddle bar R has a keyhole slot 36 with a large end and a small end, the large end being of a size so that a headed pin such as P can 4 pass through the large end, the pin having a head 21 and a shank 28 small enough to be slidable in the small end of the slot.

It will be seen that by releasing the springs D from the ends of two heddle bars or from all the heddle bars, the heddle bars R, R, can be moved the length of the slots 36 and the whole assembly can be entirely removed. On the other hand, if desired the springs at only one end can be released, the heddle bars moved in the other direction against the other springs and lifted up and over to rest over the adjoining end in a position sometimes desirable when changing heddles.

Pin or rivet P has a shoulder 29 resting against one side of flange 6 while the end I28 of shank 28 is spread and counter sunk in a hole 38 through flange 6 of web 5.

Each heddle bar R, as shown, has a flat middle part 40, and along its inner and outer rims, it is preferably formed with beads such as 4| and 42. In the same way each heddle L has a web'thread eye 43 and a hook member 44 which includes an opening 45 so curved at its outer inside edge as to fit slidably on the outside edge or bead 42, there bein also preferably the locking prongs 46, 46, which approach veryclose to the middle part 4c of the heddle bar.

Sometimes in handling the assembly of heddle bars R, R, and heddles L when removed from the frame, it slips and the heddles might come off if it were not for the prongs 46, 46.

With this construction, it will be seen that while the heddles can be slipped on the ends of the heddle bars, they cannot readily come off without being slipped back over the bar ends in the same manner.

Bead 4! is at the inside edge and 42 is at the outside edge of heddle bar R.

H is a hanger hook with a part it which goes down through one hole 8 in flange 3 and then up again through a hole 9 thereby being locked in place so that its hook I! cannot turn.

In Figs. 6 to 9, is shown an alternative construction in which the keyhole slots and slot pins P are omitted but wherein the frame F, heddles L, L, and the staves A, A, are substantially the same. This is a so true of the end pieces E, E, except that there are through their arms l0 and 15 which extend outside and inside a stave such as A, the slots [8 through which screws 19 pass whereby when desired, these screws l9 can be loosened, and the end piece E at one end pulled away so that the ends of the heddle bars R, R, at that end are not blocked by ends E.

In this case however, the heddle bars R, R, cannot'be removed but are attached by means of screws 31, to the inside flange 6, on a web 5. These screws 47 enter threaded holes in this flange, as shown, and it is clear that on removing these screws, the heddle bars R, R, as well as the heddles L, can also be removed.

In this case, as in the first described construction, any number of heddles can be removed from the ends of the heddle bars or other heddles can be added thereto, both in a well known manner as by means of a loading strip such as well known in the trade.

The principal novelty of my device is the inside web which is integral with an all metal stave which takes the place of the hooks, hangers or other connections to support each heddle bar, especially in such a way that the heddles can move freely and withuot obstruction along such bars.

It is very desirable that the heddle bars should be so attached to the web and that the end pieces and other parts should be so made that the ends of the heddle bars should be blocked ordinarily so that the heddles will not slip off, but means should be provided. to free these heddle bar ends, as from the end pieces, so that heddles can be loaded or unloaded therefrom.

Such means are the keyhole slots, pins and end piece springs in the first described embodiment or the slidable end pieces of the second construction.

Some of the modifications and variations which can be made and used are the following.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modification where G is a supporting hook with a threaded shank 50 which passes through the threaded holes 5| and 52 in flanges 3 and 4, 53 being a check nut.

In Fig. and in Fig. 11 is shown a stave 60 with webs GI and 62, which as shown, are spanned by a protecting plate 63 to keep out dust and. fly and with a web 64 which extends right up to an end piece 65 which consists of a single strip of metal with arms 66 each of which extends over the outer side of a stave B0 and is attached thereto by two screws 68, 68, and slot 61.

As shown, screws 68, 68 pass through a slot 51 in each arm 66 whereby an end piece 65 can be entirely removed or slid out by loosening the screws 68, 6B, in a manner similar to what is shown in Figs. '7 and 8.

In Figs. 10 and 11 is shown instead of an inside web flange such as 6, a series of projections or bosses 69 against which a heddle bar such as R or such as T can rest and by which it can be detachably supported by screws 41.

It is obvious a pin such as P, shown and deedge only. I prefer a bar like R with two beads because the prongs 45, 46 are close to or touch the middle part 49 of bar R. while the neck 41 of the heddle comes close to or touches the inside bead 4|, thus holding the heddle steady and preventing them from binding as they are moved along.

However, as shown in Fig. 13, the free arm I46 of a single heddle can be twisted so that its looking prong HI will clear bead 42.

The heddle is then moved vertically so that the free arm can be slipped over the outside of the head to entirely free the hook I44 and then the other hook of the heddle is treated in the same way and the whole heddle is removed.

To avoid too much twisting and bending, pref erably the height of each vertical opening at the inside of each hook of a heddle to the prongs and. the vertical spacing between the outer rims of the heddle bars should be such as to allow such a twisting and outward slipping and clearing of each heddle hook.

The heddle M shown in Figs. 12 and 13 is like L except that its hooks I44 and I44 are on the same side and extend from necks I49 and I49. Each has a free arm I45 which terminates in a locking prong It! and there is an opposite prong II together with which it limits the vertical movement of the heddle and normally keeps it in place.

In every case the heddle such as L or M is made of flat, springy metal, all in one plana includingthe hooks and the locking prongs. Each is made with a shoulder I or I 5-I which extends under the free end of the hook and in the same plane but at an angle of more than ninety degrees from the neck.

Fig. 1 shows an assembly in which each stave A has a web 5 which is shown at the front of the top stave and at the back of the bottom stave to accommodate a heddle and assembly such as shown in Fig. 5, while in Fig. 12, such webs are shown as on the same side, but for convenience in the claims, I use the term back face as indicating the face of the stave from which the web projects.

I also refer to the outside bead of each heddle bar as the one which is nearest the top or bottom of the harness, as the case may be, and I refer to the inside of the hook as the opening which is nearest the heddle eye, while by the curve of each hook, I refer to the outer side of each hook as distinguished from the inside opening, the inside of the curve being that part of a hook which comes in contact with the outside bead such as 42 or I42 of the heddle bar.

I claim:

1. For use in a loom harness comprising a rectangular frame formed by end pieces, top and bottom stave members at right angles and attached thereto, each stave member including a web projecting inward from its back face and being provided with a heddle bar holding pro- J'ection from the front face of such web, and a heddle bar supported by each of said projections and having a projecting head at its outside edges, each such heddle bar being so supported that such bead projects outward from said heddle bar holding projection proximate such web; a thin flat spring metal heddle with a warp thread eye and with a neck terminating with a hook at each end with its opening at its inside to be hooked over the outside bead of a heddle bar, each hook being provided with locking prongs at its inside opening inside such bead to prevent it from being unhooked lengthwise from the heddle bar except by twisting.

2. The combination in a, loom comprising a rectangular frame formed by end pieces, top and bottom stave members at right angles and attached thereto, each stave member including a Web projecting inward from its back face and being provided with a, heddle bar holding projection from the front face of such web; of a heddle bar supported by each of said projections and having a projecting bead at its outside edge, each such heddle bar being so supported that such bead projects outward from said heddle bar holding projection proximate such web; with one or more flat spring metal heddles each with a warp thread eye and each with a neck terminating with a hook at each end with its opening at its inside, hooked over the outside bead of a heddle bar, each hook being provided with looking prongs at its inside opening inside such bead to prevent it from being unhooked from a heddle bar except by twisting.

3. The combination in a loom comprising a rectangular frame formed by end pieces, top and bottom stave members at right angles and attached thereto, each stave member including a web projecting inward from its back face and being provided with a heddle bar supporting projection from the front face of such web; of a heddle bar supported by each of said projections and having a projecting bead at its outside edge,

7 each such heddle bar being so supported that such bead projects outward from said projection proximate such Web; with one or more fiat spring metal heddles each with a warp thread eye and each with a neck terminating with a hook at each end with its opening at its inside, hooked over the outside bead of a heddle bar, each hook being provided with looking prongs at its inside opening inside such bead, the length of the opening of each hook to the inside of the projections being less than the difierence between the space from the inside of the curves of the two hooks and the space between the outside edges of the two heddle bars.

ABBOTT S. GALAHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

